Easter lamb cakes and ....

missing Mom. We always made these together and this is the first year I have to do it alone. Makes me miss her so much. It these little things that makes me both happy and sad. Happy that she took the time to instill traditions in me and sad knowing that she is not here.

So to my Mom in heaven, these are for you.

Love you, miss you.

Almost a month....

since I last took the time to write.

In that time, the entire inside of the house has been painted. 1 room will have to be redone as the color is toooooooo creamy, needs to be more white. This same room has some of the paint "orange peeling". I have to wait at least until after Memorial Day before I can paint it again. Kinda makes me in a bad mood, that this orange peeling happened. The color on the wall was from the previous owner, so I have no idea what kind of paint they used, but that is the reason my expensive Behr with primer did not work.

Stitching wise, well, there has been none. Right now everything in on the screen porch waiting to be put back into the new room. I am keeping the room as a guest room, but the man's dresser is going to hold all my stitchy stuff. The women's triple dresser is going to hold all my sewing stuff. Gone are the bags, boxes and plastic crates. That is my goal for this week, to put all the crafty stuff away and to make a couple of valances. One for the kitchen and the Laura Ashley bathroom (pattern: Palace garden). The half bath is in shades of lavender and will have a French Country feel.

Yesterday was my birthday, the first without Mom. Difficult day. Spent some time at her favorite local garden center. Felt her presence there. Had a serious debate about getting a gardenia standard, but decided against it for now. Weather is too weird to bring such an expensive plant home. My family was too sweet when they all got me gift cards to my favorite garden center. Makes me more anxious for the season to begin. Only a few weeks away. Went to Borders yesterday and bought myself a new garden journal. Cannot wait to fill the pages with info and photos.

That's about it for now. Happy Monday. Have a great week.

Joanne

Sunday Night

Oh my, it feels so good to sit down! For the past 3 days I have been talking the house apart getting it ready for the painter on Tuesday. Well, she was suppose to be here Tuesday, but we may have a change in plans. Seems she cannot give me a firm time and now a firm day, so it looks like I will have to learn how to paint. Eek! I have been an apartment dweller so all painting has always been done by maintenance. Called Home Depot and they can give me a dummy lesson and some leaflets. My ENTIRE house is ripped apart. ARGH! (taking a long deep soothing breath). The only room that has not been ripped to shreds is here in the computer room. I was going to do that today but ran out of time and energy, well, mainly energy. The mountain of laundry is now a large hill of ironing with a bunch of throws and dog bedding.

I think this is one time when I bit off more than I can chew. How I just want to sit and stitch.

Please say a few prayers for me as I start the painting endeavor.

Have a great week.
Joanne

Laissez les bons temps rouler!!

Happy Fat Tuesday Eve!

Made this for lunch tomorrow at work

Shrimp Creole 

(4 pounds of shrimp in a HUGE stock pot).

I had to sample it to make sure it was OK. .... That's my story and I am sticking to it.

Joanne

Another month, another post

February saw me relearning how to live by myself. Seems so weird to be Mom-less. There are so many things to go thru, boxes to pack and store in the attic. I have hired the painter to completely paint the inside of the house. I dislike painting.. ALOT.  I finally chose the colors. 2 shades of white, so I can change my mind on drapes and such when the mood strikes.

The blog photo is the first piece I stitched after a 5 year break. Looking at it makes me want to stitch, but for right now there are too many things to do. I am trying, however, to organize my stash, make it neater and easier to find things.

That's about it for now
Joanne

It's that time of the year.

The daffodils are coming up here in NE Ohio and I just watched the Duals at Daytona. Means one thing...... 3 months until my racing photography season begins. The torn muscle in my calf is healed. The cameras have had the shutters fixed and I am antsy to get in a corner and do some work.

Sunday is the Daytona 500....

Have a great day;
Joanne

Mom

Graduation June 1948

 Wedding Day June 1950

At the Apple Farm September 2010

While I was driving on the Ohio Turnpike and my brother was pulling into the hospital parking lot, Mom passed away at 6:05 pm.

She is now with my Dad and they are dancing the night away.

Thanks for being a great parent. Thank you for everything. 

I Love you, Mom! 

Your daughter;

Joanne